KenPom says…

Stay on the shooters

Virginia Tech is No. 3 in the country in effective field goal percentage at 59.2. That’s a KenPom stat that gives team’s extra credit for made 3-pointers. Only Villanova (60.2 percent) and St. Mary’s (59.8 percent) are better nationally. The average for all Division I teams is 50.2 percent. (N.C. State is 51.5 percent).

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So the Wolfpack will need to contest as many Virginia Tech shots as possible. The Hokies aren’t likely to miss many open shots.

Protect the ball

N.C. State has been at its best when it keeps its turnovers low and it assists on a high percentage of its made field goals.

The Hokies are below average nationally in terms of forcing opponents into turnovers, something that should help the Wolfpack score more points in this game.

Nationally, teams are committing turnovers on 18.8 percent of their possessions. Teams playing Virginia Tech do so on 18.1 percent of their possessions, which leaves the Hokies 218th in the country as a defense.

N.C. State turns the ball over on just 16.8 percent of its offensive possessions, good for No. 61 nationally.